Folding and stacking door means



April 1, 1969 I F. B HORTON 7 FOLDING AND STACKING DOOR MEANS I Filed Aug. 16; 1967 Sheet 1 of 2' INVENTOR. FRANCIS B. HORTON /2 2 (Z, AT To R N EYS April 1, 1969 F. a. HORTON 3,435,877

FOLDING AND STACKING DOOR MEANS Filed Aug. 16, 1967 INVENTOR.

FRANCIS B. HORTON United States Patent 3,435,877 FOLDING AND STACKING DOOR MEANS Francis B. Horton, 7 Pinecrest Drive, Wellington, Kans. 67152 Filed Aug. 16, 1967, Ser. No. 660,954 Int. Cl. Ed 15/26 US. Cl. 160-206 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a closure means and, more specifically, to a folding and stacking door means usable for coverage of large openings such as that found on en trances to airplane hangars. Still, more specifically, this invention relates to a collapsible folding and stacking door means having interconnected door panel assemblies operable through upper and lower hanger and guide assemblies permitting the easy lateral movement of the sliding door panel assemblies from opened to closed positions requiring a minimum of storage space in the stacked or wide open position and revealing the entire entrance openmg.

Numerous types of folding door structures are known to the prior art having roller structures thereon permitting the door members to be slidable within a given track and movable to a retracted or open position. However, the prior art devices are generally complicated in .structure, unreliable in operation, and not adaptable to use with heavy door members such as that found in garages, airplane hangars, etc. Additionally, the prior art folding and stacking door structures are not easily movable from the opened to the closed position to reveal all of the entrance area while taking a minimum amount of space in this folded or opened position.

In accordance with the present invention, a new and novel folding and stacking door means mountable, for example, on the enlarged entrance to an airplane hangar is provided which includes upper and lower hanger and guide means having opposing, cooperating collapsible panel means connected thereto. The upper hanger and guide means includes a plurality of spaced support brackets mountable against the hanger structure adjacent the entrance and secured to a guide channel means as by bolt members. The guide channel means includes an outer hanger channel having a guide channel of U-shape in transverse cross section mounted therein to receive the collapsible panel means. The lower hanger and guide means includes a rigid rail of T shape in transverse cross section having the cross portion anchored within a support base. Each of the collapsible panel means includes a plurality of interconnected door assemblies each having the upper support and track assembly including a main guide shaft extended through the tubular sections of upper hinge members and having an upper end portion extended between the U-shaped guide channel. A bearing member is mounted on the end portion of the guide shaft providing for lateral movement within the guide channel. The lower support and track assembly includes a main support shaft bent substantially 90 degrees having an upright portion mounted through adjacent lower hinge members on the abutting door assemblies. The support shaft includes a horizontal portion extended between lower abutting ends of the door frame structures and connected to a pair of spaced guide plates having support roller bearings mounted therebetween. The outer peripheral surfaces of the bearings are adapted to be supported upon the upper surface of the support rail providing for lateral movement thereupon and vertical support.

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Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a new and novel folding and stacking door means overcoming the above mentioned disadvantages of the prior art devices.

Another object of this invention is to provide a folding and stacking door means adaptable to cover large entrances having support and guide means operable to permit the easy opening and closing thereof and requiring a minimum amount of space in the opened or stacked position.

A further object of this invention is to provide a folding and stacking door means having support and guide roller assemblies permitting the easy opening and closing thereof with a minimum amount of effort readily adaptable for airplane hangar entrances having a great expanse of width and height.

One further object of this invention is to provide a folding and stacking door means having a pair of cooperating collapsible panel means constructed of individual door assemblies interconnected for conjoint movement from the closed, aligned position to the stacked position in parallel relationship requiring a minimum amount of space therefor and, each of the door assemblies having upper and lower hanger and guide means maintaining the required rigid vertical and lateral support both in the opened and closed conditions.

One other object of this invention is to provide a folding and stacking door means having hanger and guide means readily connectable to a periphery of an enlarged entrance such as found in garages or airplane hangars, the same being extremely durable, economical to manufacture, and substantially maintenance free.

Variuos other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following discussion, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an airplane hangar having the folding and stacking door means of this invention mounted about the airplane entrance;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 showing the door means of this invention in a partially stacked or opened position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged foreshortened sectional view taken along line 33 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary exploded perspective view of a lower support and track assembly of the door means of this invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary exploded perspective view of an upper support and track assembly of the door means of this invention;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a lower mating support and track assembly of the door means of this invention; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 2 of a pivotal connection of the door means of this invention.

The following is a discussion and description of preferred specific embodiments of the new folding and stacking door means of this invention, such as being made with reference to the drawings, whereupon the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts and/or structure. It is to be understood that such discussion and description is not to unduly limit the scope of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail and in particular to FIG. 1, a conventional airplane hangar building 12 housing an airplane 13 and is shown having an enlarged entrance opening 14 coverable by a folding and stacking door means 16 of this invention. The folding and stacking door means 16 includes upper and lower guide means 17 and 18, respectively, adapted to support cooperating collapsible panel means 20 and 21 thereon. The panel means and 21 are movable from the aligned, closed position in FIG. 1 to the partially folded and stacked position of FIG. 2 to expose substantially the entire height and width of the opening 14 resulting in a maximum utilization of the fioor area within the hangar building 12.

As shown in FIG. 3, the upper hangar and guide means 17 includes an elongated hangar channel 23 extended beyond the entire length of the opening 14 and mounted adjacent thereon as by a plurality of spaced support brackets 25. Each of the support brackets 25 is of an L-shape having a leg 26 secured as by bolt 28 to the hangar building 12 and the other horizontally extended leg 29 secured to the hangar channel 23 as by a carriage bolt 31 or the like. The hangar channel 23 is constructed of rectangular tubular material having an axially extended slot 32 in a lower sidewall 34 thereof. Mounted within the hangar channel 23 is an inner guide channel 36 of U-shape in transverse cross section having the open side thereof facing the slot 32 and supported on lower facing extensions 37 of the sidewall 34. It is obvious that the hangar channel 23 can be adjusted laterally on the support brackets 25 to achieve a close fit with the adjacent wall of the hangar building 12 for obvious reasons. The construction of the inner guide channel 36 allows the same to cover carriage bolts 31 and is made of a specially hardened steel to present a wear surface in the completed assembly which may be readily replaced as required.

The lower support and guide means 18 includes an elongated support track 38 of T-shape in transverse cross section having the cross portion 39 embedded in a concrete floor 41 of the hangar building 12 or may be secured thereto as by a plurality of anchor bolt members (not shown). The track 38 provides an upright leg portion 43 used as a vertical support for the entire collapsible panel means 20 and 21 as will be explained.

The collapsible panel means 20 and 21 are each constructed of a plurality of interconnected door assemblies 44 that are substantially identical, therefore, only one need be described in detail. The door assembly 44 includes a main frame structure 46 extended about the periphery of a rectangular door panel 48 secured thereto. The main frame structure 46 is constructed of square tubular material having upright parallel side supports 50 and 51 to which are secured upper and lower hinge members 53 and 54, respectively. More specifically, the hinge members 53 and 54 are each formed with a main cylindrical body 56 having an integral laterally extended tab section 57 secured as by welding to the surface of the respective side supports 50 and 51. Adjacent pairs of the upper and lower hinge members 53 and 54 on the abutting door assemblies 44 are in a staggered relationship so as to have upper and lower surfaces of the cylindrical bodies 56 in substantially contacting relationship similar to the connection of interconnected conventional door and frame hinges. The upper and lower hinge members 53 and 54 on respective ones of the side supports 58 and 51 are mounted on opposite surfaces for reasons to become obvious.

Additionally, each of the door assemblies 44 includes means for pivotal connection to one adjacent pair of the side supports 50 and 51, such being upper and lower support and track assemblies 60 and 61. More particularly, the upper support and track assembly 60 includes a main guide rod or shaft 62 having a bearing member 63 rotatably connected to an upper end thereof and positionable within the guide channel 36. The guide shaft 62 is mounted in the cylindrical bodies 56 of adjacent ones of the upper hinge members 53 on abutting door assemblies 44 and held in a given vertical position by an adjustable clamp member 65 mounted about the guide shaft 62 and abutting the upper surface of the top hinge member 53.

The lower support and track assembly 61 includes a main support shaft 67 bent on an arcuate curve substantially 90 degrees having a horizontal portion 68 connected to a guide assembly 69. The support shaft 67 has an upright portion 71 extended within the cylindrical bodies 56 of the adjacent lower hinge members 54 on abutting door assemblies 44. A cylindrical vertical stop member 73 is mounted about and secured as by welding to the upright portion 71 to receive the lower surface of the bottom one of the cylindrical bodies 56 thereagainst to provide vertical support to the entire interconnected door assemblies 44 as will be explained. The guide assembly 69 mounted on the horizontal portion 68 of the support shaft 67 includes a lateral stop member 74 secured as by welding to a mid-portion of the horizontal portion 68. Outwardly of the lateral stop member 74 is mounted, successively, a first guide plate 76; a pair of spaced support bearing members 78 each rotatably mounted on hearing axles 79 to the first guide plate 76; a second guide plate 81 connected to the bearing axles 79 and also to the support shaft 67; and a lock pin 82 extended through a hole 84 in the outer end of support shaft 67 to prevent lateral movement of the entire guide assembly 69 thereon.

More specifically, the first and second guide plates 76 and 81 are preferably constructed of a steel plate material of rectangular shape having a central opening 86 adapted to receive the horizontal portion 68 of the support shaft 67 therein allowing limited rotational movement of the plates 76 and 81 thereabout. The lateral stop member 74 abuts the first guide plate 76 to maintain the same in a proper lateral position upon the support shaft 67 and out of contact with the frame structure 46 on pivotal movement about the shafts 62 and 67. The bearing axles 79 are mounted in aligned openings 87 in the first and second guide plates 76 and 81 with the rotational bearing members 78 having outer peripheral surfaces 88 extended below the lower surface of the support shaft 67 for contact with the support track 38. It is seen that the lock pin 82 restricts lateral movement of the guide plates 76 and 81 and the interconnected support bearings 78 upon the support shaft 67 and also present a ready means for removing these elements for replacement upon excessive wear of the support bearings 78.

It is noted that the lowermost adjacent portions of the abutting side supports and 51 of the frame structure 46 are provided with angularly cut corners 89 permitting the extension of the support shaft 67 therebetween while allowing abutting relationship of the remaining portions of the side supports 50 and 51 when the collapsible panel means 20 and 21 are in the closed position. As shown in FIG. 7, the other pair of side supports 50 and 51 on the adjacent door assemblies 44 are pivotally interconnected as by elongated bolt member 91 extended through the cylindrical bodies 56 of adjacent, axially aligned upper and lower hinge members 53 and 54. A nut member (not shown) could be secured to the bolt members 91 to give added vertical stability when in the open position of FIG. 2 if desired.

In the assembly of the folding and stacking door means 16 of this invention, it is obvious that the support brackets 25 of the upper hangar and guide means 17 are connected to the hangar building 12 along the upper edge of the opening 14 therein. Each of the collapsible panel means 20 and 21 are assembled to interconnect the adjacent door assemblies 44 by use of the upper and lower support and track assemblies and 61 and the bolt members 91 connected to the upper and lower adjacent hinge members 53 and 54. The lower support and track assemblies 61 are mounted upon the support track 38 having the support bearings 78 riding upon the upper surface thereof while, concurrently, the upper support and track assemblies 60 are movable axially and within the guide channel 36 to place the bearing members 63 therewithin so as to contact both sides of the guide channel 36. The clamp members can be secured in desired axial positions upon the respective guide shafts 62 to provide proper spacing of the bearing members 63 within the guide channel 36. It is obvious that the outermost ones of the door assemblies 44 of the respective collapsible panel means 20 and 21 are pivotally secured to the upper and lower guide means 17 and 18 in a proper relationship so as to have abutting relationship of the inner adjacent ones of the door assemblies 44 of the respectively collapsible panel means 20 and 21. Additionally, as shown in FIG. 1, it is seen that one of the inner adjacent door assemblies 44 has its side supports '50 not connected to the upper and lower guide means 17 and 18 so that the same may be pivotal about the other side support 51 similar to a standard swinging door allowing access to the hangar building 12 by persons and the like without the necessity of opening the entire folding and stacking door means 16.

As shown in FIG. 6, the other one of the inner abutting door assemblies 44 includes upper and lower support and track assemblies 60 and 61 identical to those previously described except only one of the upper and lower hinge member 53 and 54, respectively, are mounted thereon. As shown in FIG. 2, the door assemblies 44 are interconnected by the bolt members 91 allowing these portions to be moved outwardly when moving into the open folding and stacking position. This necessitates the upper and lower hinge members 53 and 54 on the side supports 50 and 51; respectively, being on opposite parallel surfaces to permit movement of the door assemblies 44 into the stacked, parallel relationship.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper and lower guide means 17 and 18 are extended outwardly of the opening 14 of the hangar building 12. This permits the storage of the door assemblies 44 laterally of the opening 14 in the opened position allowing full utilization of the floor area of the hangar building 12. a

As will be apparent from the foregoing description of the applicants folding and stacking door means, relatively simple and inexpensive means have been provided which are readily attachable to conventional garages and airplane hangar structures so as to provide a readily movable and efficient means of enclosing a large entrance. Applicants construction is readily attachable with a minimum amount of effort to the adjacent peripheral surface of an enlarged opening to provide means for closing and opening the structure whereby in the open position the folding and stacking door means requires a minimum amount of storage space. Additionally, the folding and stacking door means of this invention is easy to install, economical to manufacture, readily movable from opened to closed position with a minimum amount of effort, and substantially maintenance free.

While the invention has been described in connection with preferred specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that this description is intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A folding and stacking door means adapted to selectively close and expose an entrance opening in a building or the like, comprising:

(a) hanger and guide means mounted adjacent the upper edge of the opening having an elongated hanger member and a plurality of support brackets secured to said hanger member to anchor same to the build- :ing adjacent the opening,

(b) support and guide means mounted about the lower edge of the opening,

(c) first and second cooperating panel means mounted on said hanger and guide means and said support and guide means movable from a closed position covering the opening to an opened position revealing the opening, said first and second panel means each having a plurality of interconnected door assemblies,

(d) said door assemblies having a frame structure with parallel upright side supports, spaced hinged members secured to said side supports, upper and lower support and track assemblies connected to said hinge members on one of said side supports and to said hanger and guide means and said support and guide means, respectively, and means pivotally interconnecting adjacent other ones of said side supports,

(e) said upper support and track assembly having an elongated shaft member mounted in certain ones of said hinge members and a bearing member secured to said shaft member mounted within said elongated member to provide for axial movement of said upper support and track assembly therein while permitting pivotal movement of interconnected ones of said support assemblies about said shaft member,

(D said hanger member of U-shape in transverse cross section having inwardly facing extensions adjacent the open side, and

(g) said hanger and guide means having an elongated guide channel mounted within said hanger member on said extensions adapted to receive said bearing members on said upper support and track assemblies providing for the guiding axial movement thereof.

2. A folding and stacking door means as described in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said lower support and track assembly including a support shaft having one end portion extended u-pwardly through certain ones of said hinge members and a lower horizontal portion extended transversely of said frame structure having a guide assembly connected thereto mounted on said support and guide means allowing for axial movement therealong on movement from opened to closed positions while permitting pivot-a1 movement of interconnected ones of said door assemblies about said support shaft,

'(b) said guide assembly having a first stop member secured to said horizontal portion, a pair of spaced guide plates pivotally connected to said support shaft, a pair of bearing members mounted on and between said guide plates, and a lock pin secured to said support shaft to restrict lateral movement of said bearing members and said guide plates between said first stop member and said lock pin, and

'(c) said bearing members having an outer peripheral surface in contact with said support and guide means for axial movement therealong and said guide plates restricting lateral movement thereon.

3. A folding and stacking door means as described in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said hinge members on abutting ones of said door assemblies in an adjacent relationship having one of said side supports connected to said upper and lower support and track assemblies and on the other of said side supports interconnected as by bolt members providing for pivotal movement thereabout, and

(b) said hinge members connected to said bolt members mounted on the inner side of said frame structure, said frame structure and said hinge members connected to said upper and lower support track assemblies mounted upon the outer side of said frame structures thereby allowing said door assemblies to be movable into adjacent parallel relationship when said first and second panel means are moved to the stacked or fully opened positions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 781,665 2/ 1905 Kusch -206 X 1,405,485 2/1922 Callery 160-*199 X 1,496,904 6/1924 Phillips 160-199 X 1,503,364 7/1924 Howat 160-499 FOREIGN PATENTS 270,276 -1 1/1927 Great Britain.

677,65 7 8/ 1952 Great Britain.

157,289 10/ 1939 Germany.

DENNIS L. TAYLOR, Primary Examiner. 

